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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

COSI release

Sullivan to Transition to New Role at COSI

Former astronaut and scientist to step down as CEO to serve as Science Advisor

Kathryn Sullivan will transition to a new role at Columbus' Center of Science and Industry (COSI), focusing on education and advocacy for the organization. Sullivan, who became COSI's chief executive in April of 1996, will no longer manage the science center's day-to-day operations. She will begin her new role as Science Advisor and step down as President & CEO when a successor is found.

"After much thought and consideration, it simply felt like the right time to make this transition," Sullivan said. "At my core I have always been a teacher. I'm looking forward to supporting COSI as an educator, rather than an administrator," she said.

"Kathy is truly a world-class scientist with an incredible array of life experiences," said Carl Kohrt, President and CEO of Battelle and Chair of the COSI Governing Board "This new role will allow us to take full advantage of Kathy's talents and interests."

Kohrt said the board will immediately engage the services of an executive search firm to conduct a national search for Sullivan's successor. He said a search committee will be formed featuring members of the board and community leaders. "COSI's board is intently focused on the future of this incredible community resource," Kohrt said.

During Sullivan's tenure, COSI has been one of the country's most respected science centers, known for pioneering science outreach programs including the Inquiry Learning for Schools Initiative, COSI's Electronic Education program, and COSI Academy.

Sullivan is a decorated astronaut and was formerly chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As an astronaut, Sullivan is a veteran of three shuttle missions and was the first American woman to walk in space. President George W. Bush nominated her last September to be part of the 24-member National Science Board, which oversees the National Science Foundation and acts as a major policy advisor to the President and Congress.

COSI opened its doors in 1964 and moved to its current location on the downtown Columbus riverfront in 1999. The organization has served more than 17 million guests in its 41-year history.

President George W. Bush announced on September 23rd his nomination of Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D. to be a member of the National Science Board. The NSB is the governing body that oversees the National Science Foundation and acts as a major policy advisor to the President and Congress. Assuming confirmation by the Senate, Sullivan would serve a six-year term ending in 2010.

"I am thrilled to have this new, tremendous opportunity, which supports COSI's core mission: to serve the advancement of science and science education for the nation and the state of Ohio," said Sullivan.

The National Science Board is a 24-member independent policy body established by Congress in 1950. Members are selected on the basis of their distinguished service in science and engineering research and education.

"This confirmation reaffirms what we in central Ohio have known for years: Kathy Sullivan is unrivaled in her experience, expertise and leadership in the field of science and technology," said Congresswoman Deborah Pryce of Ohio. "She is a great advocate for science education, and her work has had a positive influence on museums and science centers throughout the country. Here at home, she put COSI on the map by developing a program that has earned the center a national reputation as an innovator of hands-on, inquiry-based science learning resources."

Currently, Sullivan serves as President and CEO of COSI in Columbus, Ohio. This would make her fourth Presidential nomination under four different administrations. In 1985, Sullivan was appointed by President Reagan to the National Commission on Space. In 1992, Sullivan was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to the post of Chief Scientist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Renominated by Clinton in 1993 and following Senate confirmation that same year, Sullivan served as NOAA's Chief Scientist until April 1996. In 2000, President Clinton appointed Sullivan to the Advisory Board for the Federal Commission on the Centennial of Flight.

The first American woman to walk in space, Kathy is a veteran of three shuttle missions and a 2004 inductee to the Astronaut Hall of Fame. In 2003, Dr. Sullivan received the National Science Board's Public Service Award in recognition of her lifelong commitment to science education. She is a Fellow of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Institute of Astronautics and Aeronautics. Sullivan is also an oceanography officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve, holding the rank of Captain.

Robert Pearlman

National Science Board release

National Science Board Elects Physician and Former Astronaut to be New Officers

At its May 10 meeting, the National Science Board (NSB) elected Steven C. Beering to serve as chair and Kathryn D. Sullivan to serve as vice chair. The new officers replace outgoing chair Warren M. Washington and vice chair Diana S. Natalico.

The National Science Board was established by Congress as part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Act of 1950, and has two important roles. It provides oversight for, and establishes the policies of, NSF. It also serves as an independent body of advisors to both the president and Congress on broad national policies issues related to science and engineering research and education.

The board elects officers, who serve 2-year terms, from its current membership.

NSB members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Newly appointed and outgoing members are eligible to serve as consultants to the board and participate in all activities except voting and holding office. Outgoing members can serve as consultants until new members are named by the president...

Newly elected Vice Chair, Kathryn D. Sullivan, serves as science advisor to the Center of Science and Technology (COSI) a dynamic center of hands-on science learning in Columbus, Ohio. She served as COSI president and chief executive officer from 1996 to 2005, leading the science center into both a new home and the next century. Prior to joining COSI, Sullivan was the chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A former astronaut, Sullivan is a veteran of three space shuttle missions. She joined NASA in 1978 as a member of the first space shuttle astronaut class. On her first spaceflight, in Oct. 1984, she became the first American woman to walk in space. In 1990, she flew on the Hubble Space Telescope deployment mission, and in 1992 was the Payload Commander for the ATLAS-1 Spacelab mission. Education has been a major theme of Sullivan's volunteer activities. She led the design of the original Challenger Center program model.

Sullivan is a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Her professional affiliations include the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institution. Sullivan has a bachelor of science degree in earth sciences from University of California at Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. in geology from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia. She has received national honors, awards, and honorary degrees from a number of institutions. She was appointed to the National Science Board in 2004.

Robert Pearlman

Ohio State release

Kathryn Sullivan to lead new math, science education policy center

Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D., the first American woman to walk in space, has been named the first director of the new Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy housed at The Ohio State University's John Glenn School of Public Affairs. The announcement of Sullivan's appointment was made today by Ohio State President Karen A. Holbrook and Battelle President and CEO Carl F. Kohrt.

In May, Holbrook and Kohrt announced the formation of the center through a $4 million gift from Battelle. The center will address the country's global competitiveness and its clear link to math and science education by developing policies and practices that will increase the number of students in the STEM fields and prepare them to be leaders.

"Dr. Sullivan's incredible background and personal enthusiasm, energy, and commitment to innovation, science, and education will guide the Battelle Center to its full potential as a place for educators, business and government leaders to debate and formulate policies that enhance STEM education in this country," Holbrook said.

"Kathy Sullivan is an excellent choice as the first director for the new Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy," Kohrt said. "She brings unmatched real-world experience from her days with NASA as well as a great feel for science education from her leadership at COSI. She is currently vice chair of the National Science Board and played a key role in the development of the board's recent '2020 Vision' for the National Science Foundation, one of the nation's key players in science education. I'm excited to see her bring that expertise to bear on some of the important discussions that will take place at the Center."

Sullivan, who will begin her new role at Ohio State on Nov. 1, serves COSI, the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, as science adviser, providing strategic counsel on science and education policy matters. Sullivan will continue to support COSI as a science advisor in a volunteer capacity once she begins her position with the Battelle Center. Her appointment is subject to approval by the Ohio State University Board of Trustees.

Sullivan also served as president and chief executive officer of the science center from 1996 through 2005, leading COSI through a period of major growth and change. During this period she managed the construction and launch of a $125 million new facility and a major expansion of the science center's contribution to science education reform.

From 1992 to 1996, Sullivan was the chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where she oversaw a wide array of research and technology programs ranging from climate and global change to satellites and marine biodiversity.

A former astronaut and veteran of three space shuttle missions, Sullivan became the first woman to walk in space during a Challenger flight in 1984. She flew on the Discovery in 1990 for the Hubble Space Telescope deployment mission and on the Atlantis in 1992 for the ATLAS-1 Spacelab mission.

Sullivan serves as vice chairman of the National Science Board. A captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Sullivan holds a bachelor of science in Earth Sciences from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. in geology from Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia.

Her professional affiliations include the American Association for the Advancement of Science, where she is a fellow and director, and the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institution. She has received numerous honors and awards, including NASA medals for Exceptional Service and Outstanding Leadership and the National Air and Space Trophy from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. She was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2004.

Battelle is a global leader in science and technology. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, it develops and commercializes technology and manages laboratories for customers. Battelle, with the national labs it manages or co-manages, oversees 20,000 staff members and conducts $3.4 billion in annual research and development. Battelle innovations have included the development of the office copier machine (Xerox); pioneering work on compact disc technology; fiber optics for telecommunications; new medical products to fight diabetes, cancer and heart disease; breakthroughs in environmental waste treatment; homeland security technologies; and advancements in transportation safety and security.

Founded in 1870, The Ohio State University is a world-class public research university and the leading comprehensive teaching and research institution in the state of Ohio. The university is ranked ninth by the National Science Foundation among public research universities based on total research expenditures and has been named among the Top 25 public research universities every year U.S. News & World Report has done the ranking. With more than 51,800 students enrolled at its main Columbus campus, 18 colleges and 170 majors, the university offers its students tremendous breadth and depth of opportunity in the liberal arts, the sciences, and the professions.

The university houses colleges with national and international reputations in the STEM fields. The engagement of those colleges -- Engineering, Biological Sciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Education -- will play an important role in the success of the Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy.

The John Glenn School of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University is a non-partisan interdisciplinary unit that prepares graduate students for careers in public service, and seeks to strengthen democracy through increased civic engagement, policy research and outreach. The School began operations on July 1, 2006 as a merger of the long-standing School of Public Policy and Management and the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy at OSU.

Robert Pearlman

Kathy Sullivan has been nominated by President Obama to be the Assistant Secretary of Commerce.

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts...

Kathy Sullivan is the inaugural director of the Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy in the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at Ohio State University. Prior to joining Ohio State, Dr. Sullivan served a decade as President and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, Ohio, one of the nation's leading science museums. Dr. Sullivan joined COSI after three years' service as Chief Scientist at NOAA, where she oversaw research and technology programs agency-wide.

Dr. Sullivan was one of the first six women selected to join the NASA astronaut corps in 1978 and holds the distinction of being the first American woman to walk in space. She flew on three shuttle missions during her 15-year tenure, including the mission that deployed the Hubble Space Telescope.

Dr. Sullivan has also served on the National Science Board (2004-2010) and as an oceanographer in the U.S. Navy Reserve (1988-2006). She holds a bachelor's degree in earth sciences from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a doctorate in geology from Dalhousie University in Canada.

Robert Pearlman

The Columbus Dispatch reports that Kathryn Sullivan's nomination has been resubmitted by the White House to the new Senate.

The White House said last week that it has again sent to the Senate the nomination by President Barack Obama of Kathryn Sullivan, the former astronaut and former head of COSI Columbus, to be an assistant secretary of commerce.

Sullivan was first nominated in December, but because the Senate didn't approve her nomination and a bevy of others forwarded late last year, the White House last week renewed the formal requests.

thump

The US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved her appointment yesterday, March 17, 2011

Robert Pearlman

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration release

Kathryn D. Sullivan appointed as assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction for NOAA

Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D., was confirmed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate and appointed by President Obama to serve as assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction and deputy administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Dr. Sullivan, who previously served as NOAA's chief scientist, is a distinguished scientist, renowned astronaut and intrepid explorer. As assistant secretary, she will play a central role in directing Administration and NOAA priority work in the areas of weather and water services, climate science and services, integrated mapping services and Earth-observing capabilities.

"Dr. Sullivan brings to her new appointment a wealth of experience in space exploration, technology and science," said U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. "Ensuring ever-improving information and forecasts of weather, climate and ocean systems based on the best available data is critical to businesses and communities across the U.S. I cannot think of anyone more qualified than Kathy to take on this important role at NOAA at a time when the U.S. economy is depending on science and innovation to remain competitive."

Dr. Sullivan will provide agency-wide direction with regard to satellites, space weather, water, and ocean observations and forecasts to best serve American communities and businesses. Working closely with Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Management and Deputy Administrator Dr. Larry Robinson and NOAA's forthcoming chief scientist, Dr. Sullivan will help ensure the effective integration of activities, information, products and services across NOAA.

"It is with great pleasure that I welcome Kathy back to the NOAA family," said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "Her expertise spans the breadth of the work we do at this diverse agency, and her experience and vision will help the agency continue to improve upon the many critical products and services we provide every day to the American people. "

Dr. Sullivan's impressive expertise spans the frontiers of space and sea. An accomplished oceanographer, Dr. Sullivan was appointed NOAA chief scientist in 1993, where she oversaw a research and technology portfolio that included fisheries biology, climate change, satellite instrumentation and marine biodiversity.

"I am thrilled to be back at NOAA and look forward to the challenges and opportunities that await me," said Sullivan, who served as chief scientist at NOAA from 1993 to 1996.

Robert Pearlman

As of Feb. 28, 2013, Kathy Sullivan is the new Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator.

Today, the United States Senate confirmed Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D. as under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere. In this capacity, she will serve as the tenth administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the nation's top science agency for climate, oceans, and the atmosphere.

"With her impressive background as a scientist and astronaut and her excellent record of building bridges between diverse environmental stakeholder communities and federal policymakers, Kathy brings a great blend of scientific rigor, team-building skills, and strategic sensibility to the important job of NOAA administrator," said John P. Holdren, assistant to the president and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

With a budget of $4.7 billion, and more than 12,000 employees in every U.S. state and locations around the world, NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages the nation's coastal and marine resources.

"NOAA provides the environmental intelligence that helps citizens, businesses, and governments make smart choices. Mission first, people always - this is my commitment to the American people and to the NOAA workforce," said Sullivan. "I'm incredibly proud of our people, and it's an honor to be at the helm."

Sullivan assumed the role of acting under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and acting NOAA administrator in February 2013. She had been serving as assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction and deputy NOAA administrator, as well as performing the duties as the agency's chief scientist.

"I am excited for Kathy and for the national ocean community. I've known her for more than 20 years starting when she was a senior U.S. Naval Reserve Officer working in science and technology," said retired Navy Vice Admiral Paul Gaffney, president emeritus of Monmouth University and member of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative. "Kathy knows the science, her heart and being are linked in exploration, and she is no stranger to the realities of working effectively in Washington."

Sullivan's expertise spans the frontiers of space and sea. An accomplished oceanographer, she was appointed NOAA's chief scientist in 1993, where she oversaw a research and technology portfolio that included fisheries biology, climate change, satellite instrumentation and marine biodiversity.

Following her first appointment at NOAA, she served a decade as president and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, Ohio, one of the nation's leading science museums. She was then the inaugural director of the Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy in the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at Ohio State University.

Sullivan was one of the first six women selected to join the NASA astronaut corps in 1978 and holds the distinction of being the first American woman to walk in space. She flew on three shuttle missions during her 15-year tenure, including the mission that deployed the Hubble Space Telescope. Sullivan has also served on the National Science Board (2004-2010) and as an oceanographer in the U.S. Navy Reserve (1988-2006).

Sullivan holds a bachelor's degree in earth sciences from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a doctorate in geology from Dalhousie University in Canada.

NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources.

There may be no better way to appreciate the earth than to leave it, to look back on the beauty and fragility of our planet from the vantage point of space. Only a tiny fraction of humanity gets that opportunity, so when someone does — and also happens to be one of the smartest people around when it comes to earth sciences — it’s good to have her on our side, especially in challenging times. That’s what makes us all lucky that Kathryn Sullivan was just confirmed as administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.